Beer: Reviews & Ratings

"This English style barleywine ale has been aged in cabernet wine barrels. Enjoy now or cellar it "Below Decks" as it will become more complex as it ages." Brewed in the style of an English Barleywine ale. Available in 22 oz. bottles and on limited draft. Released as a small batch variant of the annual release Below Decks Barleywine standard.

Poured from a 22 oz. bottle to a snifter glass. Served above 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

(Appearance) Pours a frothy foam head of a medium tan color over a very dark brown body with little transparency. Retention is below average and lacing is light and spotty. 3.25

(Smell) The impact of the Cabernet barrel aging is markedly strong in the aroma, with strong earthy tannins, robust vinous characteristics and a fully dry delivery. Like the Bourbon Variation, the barrel aging is certainly a main focus rather than a component, and the normal aromas of a barleywine play a very minor role. Potency is moderate. 3.5

(Taste) The Below Decks Barleywine components of grain malt, molasses and fruit syrups are strongly accented with the inclusion of Cabernet barrels, a very unique treatment in my experiences with barleywines as well as most barrel aged beers. Strongest in the finish, the barrel impact is very bold, moderate toasted oak and strong wood tannins, finishinglightly fruity and earthy with a mild vinous and tart grape finish, moderately dry with some reserved sweetness. The slight tartness stands out as a welcoming finish. 3.75

(Mouthfeel) Texture is slick, residual, moderately dry. Carbonation is light, generating a modest frothiness and a mildly crisp finish. Body is medium+ for the style, medium/heavy overall. Balance is slightly dry and tart over sweet. Alcohol presence is modest, and there are no off characters. 3.75

(Overall) Considerably more expensive than the Bourbon barrel aged and understandably the standard version of Below Decks, Cabernet barrel aging is simply not all that common in most craft beers, warranting no less than a sample of this beer for me. Coming out, it is my favorite variant of Below Decks by a hair due to the dimension of flavor impact it contributes to the base recipe. Even though this variation of Below Decks isn't quite rich enough to complement the flavor strength of Cabernet barrels, the barrel treatment doesn't sit entirely unmatched. I'd like to see Cabernet barrel aging make a more mainstream impact in other rich, flavorful, malt heavy beer styles, as the tannins, vinous characters and tartness of a flavorful red wine compliments this beer quite well. Stouts, anybody? 3.75

Nose is really confused at first. Leads off with big red wine notes with toasted malts and dark caramels trying to push through. Bits of chocolate turn up. Creates a chocolate sundae effect topped with a big maraschino cherry. A fair amount of rough oak from the cab barrels winds up framing the nose as the flavors begin to merge into a cherry-chocolate-covered caramel. It's pretty much a big red wine / imperial robust porter mash-up. Toward the end of the bomber, the caramel malts finally take over, but the cherry only fades, never completely disappearing. It seems that, like wine, this beer needs time to open. Perhaps it's the residual wine itself that needs to oxidize and open.

Moderately toasted malts with nibs of cocoa are front-and-center in the taste. Dark, sweet fruits like dates and red cherries follow. Finish shows off caramels with a touch of silky light milk chocolate, but the wine leaves it dry on the sides of the tongue. The only hint of the ABV is in the full, solid body and rich mouthfeel. The issue here is that the individual taste components clash rather than complement.

Not really my kind of profile; I like the sugars, vanilla wood, and ABV from bourbon barrels over the cherry effect this one has from the cab. It has the structure of a well-made beer, though, so if cherry-chocolate sounds appealing, this approach may work for you. Working through the bomber also revealed an effect common with big, oaked cabs – as they warm and open, they move through various stages that emphasize different characteristics. While certainly not as pronounced, the end of the bomber found much less definition in individual components and considerably more nuance. I have a 2012 version of this beer I'll approach more like wine when I taste. It might not be enough to simply pour at a target temperature; the beer could well also need time for the wine in it to open. (1,927 characters)

A - Pours a deep burgundy caramel color with some yeast chunks (relatively few although it was carefully poured). Carbonation is light and steady and the appearance is very viscous as the glass is swirled.

T - The Cabernet lends some wine acidity followed with oak and underneath the two is a light caramel/toffee base. Wine presence from start to finish and ends with a subtle to moderate bitter wine bite. Alcohol is not at subdued and is boozy.

M - Thick medium body with a slight bit of wateriness on the finish, slick, and the carbonation creates very light pricklies but never being harsh.

O - It's interesting, 'not sure I would let the next bottle sit for 3-4 years like I did with this one. I predict this would be closer to the sweet spot in the 1-2 year range. Although not totally awful, 'just wouldn't recommend cellaring it this long. (975 characters)

A: Pours a very dark brown color with a bit of murkiness. The head isn't very impressive - not even a finger high (off-white shade), and retention is horrible. No lacing, either.

S: This one smells rich. Aside from the massive caramel, brown sugar, chocolate, and dark fruit the base beer provides, I get not only subtle additions of buttery oak and vanilla, but also a touch of red wine. There's a faint touch of alcohol, too. The barrels have done a good job of taking the edge off the sweetness of the regular offering.

T: It opens up like I expect it to: huge brown sugar and huge dark fruit. Afterwards, the barrel comes out strongly. The oak flavor in the middle is buttery and ever-so-slightly toasted, while the finish has a vague kiss of red wine grapes. While the flavor profile is very enjoyable, I feel like it's missing something extra to make it truly spectacular. I don't know, maybe the sweetness could be a little more defined or it could have a deeper profile. As it stands right now, I think this is a rock-solid BA barleywine.

M: Rather slender in feel, this eschews some of its bulk and sweetness for a cleaner, more tannic, boozier feel. Despite what the pour suggested, it's shockingly carbonated - once that goes, this becomes superbly creamy. Make no mistake, it's still overwhelmingly sweet and hard to drink. Hey, it's an English-style barleywine, this shouldn't be chugged.

O: Being put into (cabernet) barrels was the best damn thing to happen to this beer. It still hasn't quite propped it up into elite territory, but it's a good deal more enjoyable than the base. And it's cheap for a BA barleywine to boot. Hopefully this will be made again, 'cuz I'd pick it up for the purpose of aging it a couple of years. (1,792 characters)

This beer is a big ruby-red, leaning brown, dark but with flaming red highlights. The off-white head isn't quite frothy but has a nice structure allowing for good retention and solid lacing overall.Tannic notes with a red wine juiciness that's also dry in a way very particular to certain bigger red wines, this aroma delivers the expectation. There's toffee and caramel as well, and Heavy Seas always seems to bring out the most from their barrels, with lots of oak in there. A touch of toast speaks to the malts as well, and a little leafiness seems to be the hoppy portion. Alcohol adds lots of warmth without being too heavily fusel.Tannins come out quite expressly without drying it out too much. There's a lot of toffee and brown sugar with some toast/smoke in its sweetness. It's very interesting, a strong red wine (without knowing, I would say it could be either Cab or Zin) with brown sugar making for a unique blend of flavors. It's mildly vinous, too, with a leafy note that could be the wine, the hops, or both. The wood adds a dryness as well, a good counter to the sweetness. It's earthy all the way, and some dark fruits come out toward the middle and into the finish. Alcohol adds heat the whole way without going overboard, but this is for sure a sipper.There's a smoothness in this beer's appropriately big body, lightly crisp but with a good balance and proper focus. For all the sweetness, the wood and the wine's tannins work to add a nice dryness that evens it out. (1,491 characters)

Pours a clear brown with a foamy beige head that settles to a partial film on top of the beer. Small dots of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, caramel, toffee, red wine, and wood aromas. Taste is much the same with caramel and red wine flavors on the finish. There is a mild amount of woody bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp and medium bodied mouthfeel. Overall, this is a very good beer with a great red wine barrel presence in both the aroma and flavor. (628 characters)

Overall: This is a treat for Barleywine fans. You can tell the pre-aged barleywine didn't stray too far from the template but what a difference the cabernet barrels make. Adding that touch of red grape up front makes for a tasty and unique experience. At $10 per bomber, it's worth every penny. (450 characters)

The cabernet barrel contributes a nice touch of grapes but I wanted more of a tannic quality and it turns out more sweet. Anyway, it's still a nice touch. The finish is a brown sugar with a slightly dirty sweet potato-ish flavor. Slightly boozy, but not to shabby for 10%.

Mouthfeel is heavy bodied and has ample carbonation.

I liked this beer. From what I read in reviews of the base beer, that one's not that impressive. I thought the cabernet barrels added a nice touch to the barleywine and would be curious to see what it'd do with an acclaimed base. (746 characters)

2012 vintage. poured from a 22 oz bomber. thanks again to runner440 for some successful trading. been looking to crack this for a while now but no one wanted to share so i said to hell with it and decided to try it by myself. i have high expectations seeing as I think red wine barrels would work nicely with barleywine flavors.

a- pours a very dark black/ruby with a thin layer or off-white head that doesnt last very long. really dark for a barleywine, almost looks like a stout or porter

s- stone fruit, maybe like a cherry or plum, chocolate, oak, molasses, a bit of hop presense. not much cabernet character, maybe the slightest hint of some tanic grape quality

t- there is some wine quality. a slight stone fruit tartness, followed by a bit of hops, more molasses and brown sugar sweetness, oak, finishes with some cherry and a bit of chocolate. as it warms a bit more oaky wine-type flavors emerge, but nothing strong at all. a complex barleywine, but still strikes me as a bit strange for some reason that i cant quite pin down.

m- for how sweet this is, it doesnt have that sticky thick quality that some barleywines have. it actually seems a bit on the thin side. for 10% abv it is not noticeable. very drinkable barrel aged barleywine

overall, i have mixed feelings about this beer. the barrel characteristics are not heavy handed and are not terribly noticeable. Having had the base beer, i cant exactly say that the cabernet barrels improved it. a tasty beer, but as far as barrel aged barleywines go, there are others out there that I can get much easier. im glad to have some more to age a bit, but overall, it didnt meet my expecations. (1,657 characters)

Upon pouring, it seems to be somewhat thin in body, as there is little head or lace. But it has body - the mouthfeel is soft but pretty heavy. Pours a very dark brown, almost purple.

The nose was a bit odd and nutty at first, but like most good barleywines, this one grows in complexity as it warms and opens up. Further along, it smells very much of dark fruit.

Not much wine comes through per se, but it's very sweet and fruity. Although my first impression was straight caramel. Caramel, strawberry, dark fruits and hazelnut - sums this one up nicely. Very decadent. Hides it booze better than the bourbon barrel aged version, but you'll feel the warmth from the abv rather quickly.

A very nice surprise, overall. Great for dessert or sipping by a fire. (809 characters)

Presentation: 22 oz. bomber bottle chilled and poured into my Kate the Great tulip. Enjoyed on a cold, snowy night.

Appearance: Dark mahogany brown in color with some nice ruby highlights. Pours a one finger, medium brown head that sticks pretty well to the glass. Interestingly enough, this is slightly darker than most barleywines.

Aroma: Caramel, figs and more dark fruit. The red wine barrel character is pretty assertive and lends a really interesting red wne, grape quality. Some toasted bread and strong molasses character as well. Definitely some alcohol as well between the red adn the base beer but it isn't too heavy at all. Really interesting.

Taste: My first sip was almost completely cabernet. Tasted so much like wine that I almost had to do a double take. There is absolutely no mistaking the type of barrels used for this as they are front and center. The red wine gives off some fruitiness, a little heat and a bit of a dry finish. As this warms, the base beer becomes clearer and starts to come into view. Some nice caramel and dark fruit. Surprisingly light and drinkable. I don't think this base beer has quite enough flavor to hold up to the assertive barrel. A really interesting beer that is tasty, but it also has quite a few glaring flaws.

Mouthfeel: Lighter bodied than i would expect for a barleywine. The red wine from the barrels seems to give this a drier finish than normal for the style.

Overall, a really interesting beer with a strong barrel presence. The red wine notes dominate this at times and the base beer isn't quite strong enough to hold up to the wine barrels. Not a bad beer at all, but sometimes the wine is so strong, it takes over. (1,685 characters)

This is a very nice English-style Barleywine. It's exceptionally malty with a big though not cloying sugary present. The dark fruits come through as well. I couldn't put my finger on it, but raisins and figs and possibly dates all made their presence known. I do love a good Barleywine, and this one had it all: balance, hidden ABV, drinkability, maltiness, full flavor, and full body. This is definitely worth a try. (583 characters)

This pours a dark amber and has a slight head. It smells like figs and malts. It tastes really sweet with figs and a little pineapple. It has a good body and decent carbonation. Great barleywine. I would recommend. (257 characters)

Really not much of a head produced at all, hits weak, but makes a little tan presence, and leaves a tiny pencil thin collar on the glass while enjoying. Body color is very cola like in presences with a faint red hint, but it does look like Coca Cola. However it is missing the soda giant carbonation, and this manages the thinnest bubbles around the edges.

Nose is quite varied, and different depending on first sniff and subsequent sips. However it's very sticky on first sip. Hints of toffee and caramel thick. Light oak sensations, vinous sense of wine heat, and hints of salt. Very varied and exploratory. After sips bring some vanilla and hints of soy sauce, and some grapey fruit character.

Very unexpected palate. The body shines with a real nice wine like feel, but with a smooth coating character. Malt backbone brings the depth though. Soy sauce salty character comes out a bit but also with a little sweetness. Aftertaste is varied in vanilla, and the caramel and toffee angle comes throughout. Mouthfeel is very light, lowly carbonated, not taking away from anything taste wise.

Overall there's a lot going on here, but it's quite enjoyable, and not too out of balance. It's a very unique barleywine to explore, but it may not be to ultimate tastes. I said a lot, and there's quite a bit to investigate. Also for 10% it is not very boozy, and very easy drinking. I am also not sure how well this would age. Drinking it now doesn't hurt. (1,519 characters)

This is a serious barleywine and I should have aged it, but I am drinking it as-is (2012 vintage). As soon as you pour it there is an aroma that is thick and sweet. It is a very dark translucent reddish brown in the glass with a thin head. The aroma warns of the sweetness to come and the taste delivers.

It is thick and sweet as expected, with a hint of the barrel aged grapey sweetness. It seems as though I should be drinking this from some sort of wine glass instead of the pint glass I chose. The complexity hides the booze to some extent. This is a very satisfying barleywine.

The aftertaste similarly is sweet but boozy. The wine barrel taste lingers on the tongue. As with other Heavy Seas barleywines, this is one I would buy again. The bomber is a perfect vehicle for this. (785 characters)

Appearance: deep burgundy. Sight off white head. Handsome brew.Smell: quite intense. The wine is front and center with a strong vanilla, oak foundation. I much prefer bourbon in most cases but this is very interesting.Taste: not as full and rich as the nose but the Cabernet is again, front and center. Overall: this one has more depth than prev below decks. (361 characters)

App- This was the color of a barleywine. A good and deep mahogany and tinged with red/browns. A bit of a cordial looking beer. A lighter center. Bubbles towards a 1/2" Had zero cling like the base beer.

Smell- This retained a faint note of the base barleywine and instead was more like a pure cabernet or more wine like than what I would say should be. Tannic, oaky, dark fruits and a bit of sweetness. Booze is very tame.

Taste- This was a pretty good barleywine. This was fairly sweet from the wine. A bit of sugars and booze. A good amount of malts on this one with a good amount of tannic flavors and a bit old.

Mouth- A lighter medium body with a creamy wine like flat carbonation. A couple bubbles danced but that was about it. The remaining flavors are of the oak and the wine. Not really picking up the maltiness or the citrus.

Drink- I think this was the least of the 3. The wine didnt do enough to layer but dominated. I liked that we did all 3 side by side. Its a nice beer, but not great. Probably wouldnt trade for this bottle again. (1,183 characters)

22 ounce bottle, 2011 vintage. Served in a snifter, the beer pours a murky reddish/brown color with about an inch tan head. Head retention is good, and there's a small amount of lacing. Aroma is nice, the brew smells like red wine, dark fruit, molasses, caramel, brown sugar and some wood. It tastes like red wine/grapes, dark fruit (figs, raisins, plums), molasses, caramel, toffee, and a little bit of chocolate. I thought it tasted better and better the longer I drank it. Mouthfeel/body is medium, it's syrupy and slick with moderate carbonation. I think this is a good overall brew, and it's better than the regular Below Decks (I just had a bottle of it before I drank this one). The cabernet barrel aging works well with this brew and makes it better. Definitely worth a try if you come across it. (804 characters)

This is an interesting looking beer, almost resembling mud when poured out. Had a small head that did not last more than 10 seconds. Smell immediately reminds me of red wine (as expected), chocolate - Tootsie rolls to be exact - as well as toffee, apple and a hint of coconut. Taste is bizarre, yet still enjoyable. First thing I noticed is the cabernet, followed by the caramelly malts. Did not taste one bit of hops. High alcohol content definitely shows in the taste, due to the wine barrel-aging, in my opinion. Wine was a bit overpowering and masked the other attributes of the actual beer. Mouthfeel is actually quite nice. I was expecting it to be smooth and dull like a stout, but it was lightly carbonated and left behind a fruity, oaky flavor on the tongue.

Overall, I really enjoyed the complexity that this brew offered on the nose and tastebuds. I have only tried this style of beer once or twice before, and I think this is a nice interpretation. The wine barrel aging definitely throws a curveball - unlike anything I have ever tasted before, but again it's overpowering. Probably will not try again, but no regrets. Cheers (1,188 characters)

T: About the same. Wine and chocolate, with a distinct bit of alcohol. Some astringency at the tail end that lingers a while.

M: Slick, oily, medium thickness. Not a whole lot of carbonation.

O: Very interesting brew -- seems to be halfway between beer and wine. I like the fruitiness imparted by the cabernet barrels. Makes this into something I would almost call a "dessert beer." (630 characters)

This one is a gusher after opening. Fair warning.dark ruby red/brown body with a thin cap that fades out into some continent looking bubbles. The aroma is on the dark fruit side of the spectrum, sweet smelling, with a hint of alcohol. Taste wise it is jammy, dark fruit, and the cabernet barrels seem to have imparted their likeness into this one. Some alcohol is present, grape, and oak tannins.mouthfeel is smooth and low carbonation, medium body.

The cab barrels made this one interesting and unique, it was really cool to see what they did, but maybe not the best style to use them on. (594 characters)